BOSTON – The University of New Hampshire women’s volleyball team was picked tied for fourth in the 2006 America East preseason women’s volleyball coaches poll on Monday afternoon.

The Wildcats garnered 18 total points, along with Maryland-Baltimore County. For the second straight season, University at Albany was picked to win the league with 35 points and five first place votes, while defending champion Binghamton was chosen second with 32 points (2 first-place votes). The top four teams in the league standings advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Toni Barnas

Hirschinger will enter her 28th season coaching collegiate volleyball and it marks her 11th season as the head coach of the Wildcat volleyball program. She has posted 589 career coaching victories and needs only 11 wins to become the 14th active NCAA coach to reach the 600-win plateau.

The Wildcats will be captained by senior outside hitter Sarah Rehn (Oceanside, Calif.) and sophomore outside hitter Toni Barnas (Cary, Ill.). Rehn set and played defense in 2005 registering 185 digs and 322 assists, while Barnas redshirted the season due to shoulder surgery. Sophomore outside hitter Emmy Blouin (St. Albert, Alberta) returns as UNH’s top kill producer with 274 kills and 132 digs.

The UNH volleyball team officially kicks off the 2006 campaign Friday, August 25 vs. St. John’s of the Big East conference at the Fairfield Tournament. Match time is 5 p.m. at Alumni Hall. The ‘Cats conclude play at the Fairfield Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 26 with a 11 a.m. match against host Fairfield and conclude the tournament with a 5 p.m. match vs. Bucknell University.